Forcing?

[helene_t]

Whereagles, I didn't start this thread to ask what peoples' favourite system is. My question is which of these sequences are forcing in English Acol.

 

Now that question may be a little misty since English Acol has for some time not been played by many experts, so depending of whether the question is "how do expert partneships playing Acol play it", "how do most better club players play it" or "how is it taught to beginners" you may get three different answers.

 

But 1M-2m-3m is very clearly non-forcing in either case. The thing is, 1M-2m-2M is nonforcing - it is not true that responder has the strength to 2NT, he may have 9 HCPs and opener may have 11. So if one would have to rebid 2M with a minimum and minor suit support, there is a real possibility of playing 2M in a 5-1 fit while a 5-5 fit in the minor is available. The 2M rebid is overloaded enough as it already is.

[whereagles]

@gnasher: no, it's another way to say that acol's old adage "all raises in acol are limit-bids" isn't the most efficient way to bid. Acol is a fine system as it is. Just not optimal. But hey all generalist systems are far from being the most efficient in their category.

 

@helene: where did I say I prefer this or that system? Anyway, the problem you mention (playing the 5-1 fit with an 8 card one available) is mitigable with some minor tweaks. The problem I rose rates to be more troublesome.

[NickRW]

Playing English Acol, uncontested:

1♥-2♣

3♣-3♥

 

The average club player can and will pass 3♥ with a min in my both current and past experience.

 

Whether this is a good idea or not is another question entirely - but then you start asking whether Acol is a good idea.

 

Nick